Always visible?
No.
← All explanationsHidden caries
Can decay lie beneath an unremarkable surface?
Hidden caries is a descriptive term for lesions that are difficult to notice at a glance. Assessment can be challenging between teeth or beneath apparently intact enamel. An unremarkable appearance alone cannot rule decay out.
For training & practice ↓
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Choose a view
Surface versus depth
The visible surface does not always reveal the full extent inside a tooth.
Examine selectively
Cleaning, drying and careful examination help assessment. Radiographs are added only when appropriately indicated.
Understand the findings
Site, depth and activity are considered together. A dark area on a photograph or radiograph is not automatically decay.
At a glance
Always painful?
No.
Routine X-rays for everyone?
Only after individual justification.
Knowledge in motion
Explained in 36 seconds.
Three steps. No audio.
Each scene can also be selected manually.
Silent educational film with German on-screen text and simplified teaching images. Not a patient case or a promised treatment outcome. The full English explanation is available below.
Read the film text in English
Surface versus depth
The visible surface does not always reveal the full extent inside a tooth.
Examine selectively
Cleaning, drying and careful examination help assessment. Radiographs are added only when appropriately indicated.
Understand the findings
Site, depth and activity are considered together. A dark area on a photograph or radiograph is not automatically decay.
Often confused
Not visible versus absent
A finding may exist without being directly visible. Conversely, a dark image area does not prove disease.
Quick answers
Do I need X-rays at every check-up?
No. Findings, risk and existing images guide the decision.
Can decay be painless?
Yes. Lack of pain does not rule out a carious lesion.
Can a phone photo exclude decay?
No. A photograph cannot replace examination and any necessary additional tests.
At the practice
For a personal discussion
Editorially suggested question to discuss with Dr Niusha Barahmand Pour:
Which examination is appropriate for this area, and why?
We can assess a concerning area and explain which additional tests are useful.
Have suspected decay assessedAppointment selection at DoctolibLearning layer for training & practiceUnderstand terminology and deepen knowledge
- Bitewing radiograph
- An X-ray used, among other purposes, to assess areas between teeth.
- Indication
- A clinical reason for a test or procedure.
- Transillumination
- Passing light through a tooth as a possible examination aid.
Make the distinction
A finding may exist without being directly visible. Conversely, a dark image area does not prove disease.
Sources and context
Editorial research: . General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Teaching illustrations are simplified and do not depict a patient case.